Fitness Facilities Concession Agreement Request for Information (RFI)
The Kennedy Space Center NASA Exchange Council (the Exchange); an instrumentality of the United States Government, is in the initial planning phase for solicitation of proposals for the management and operation of fitness facilities at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) as a concession business activity. The concession activity would begin October 1, 2009. The Exchange is seeking industry ideas, concepts and comments for optimizing objectives and operations of the KSC fitness centers. Comments are solicited regarding the Exchange’s vision, constraints, and conditions regarding the proposed concession.
Objectives of the RFI
1. Communicate to industry the Exchange’s vision for operation of the fitness centers, including current requirements and future constraints and conditions.
2. Identify potential Concessioners
3. Promote competition among leaders in the industry.
4. Solicit feedback from industry for potential innovations and improvements to the existing fitness centers and programs.
5. Identify industry concerns and conditions considered important to a successful concession activity for the Exchange, NASA and the Concessioner. In particular, the Exchange seeks feedback on the optimal term of a concession agreement compatible with the Exchange’s expectations.
The Exchange’s Vision for the KSC Fitness Centers
The Exchange understands that the concession activity is a commercial business opportunity and as such, the Government will not prevent the concessioner from making profits. However, Government-associated concessions are intended to serve a public interest and shall be conducted with a greater emphasis on that public interest. Specifically, while profitability considerations are acknowledged in the operation of the KSC fitness centers concession, they must always be considered in the context of the optimal way to fulfill KSC’s fitness center’s mission.
Constraints
• The Exchange retains approval rights for:
• marketing promotions
• sale of retail merchandise
• sponsorships
• news releases
• use of NASA insignia
• program content
• facilities improvement projects
• operating hours and procedures
• other activities as required by law or agency policy as will be defined in the solicitation
Labor rates must comply with Department of Labor regulations including Service Contract Act and Davis-Bacon Act.
Conditions
Manage and operate the KSC Fitness Facilities and equipment as a self-supporting entity, but within the boundaries of and in accordance with NASA/KSC policies and procedures as specified in the concession agreement.
Concessioner will manage and operate the KSC Fitness Centers in a manner with a primary concern for the benefit of its client base.
The vendor shall staff and operate two exercise facilities at KSC. The hours of operation shall be Monday through Friday from 5:30am to 7:00pm, except for official government holidays. The Concessioner shall:
a. May utilize existing equipment, including, but not limited to cardiovascular and strength training equipment. Accountability for all existing equipment will be conveyed to the Concessioner for the conduct of the concession business at KSC; however, title will remain with the Exchange. Concessioner shall create and maintain an auditable system of property records documenting acquisition, location, movement, and disposal of all Exchange property. Concessioner shall maintain/replace/dispose of property as necessary per current Exchange policies/procedures.
b. Monitor and provide assistance to the clients to assure safe and proper use of equipment in order to minimize the possibility of injury to the users or damage to the equipment;
c. Provide fitness assessments to facility clients, advise clients on an appropriate exercise program to help them achieve their fitness goals, and provide clients periodic updates on their fitness levels. Provide short-term support for rehabilitative care for patients of the onsite “RehabWorks” Facility.
d. Develop and institute a plan to ensure that personnel who use the Fitness facilities meet the requirements established by the Government (e.g., medical authorization for use, after-hours policy);
e. Provide and promote wellness and lifestyle motivational programs to improve the health of the workforce;
f. Provide training classes in various exercise areas, such as cardio, aerobics, muscle strengthening, and special fitness (e.g., abdominal classes, upper body strength, yoga, Pilates, zumba etc.).
Currently, the approximate KSC on-center government and contractor employee population is 15,000. The current consistent member base at the fitness centers is approximately 1800 to 2000 members. No fees are currently charged. NASA intends to pay the concessioner the membership fee for civil service employees (currently approximately 2,000 on-site personnel). All other government and contractor employees will be responsible for individual membership fees. Potential concessioners are requested to suggest the preferred approach for valuing and payment for all employee membership/utilization fees to include those that will be funded by NASA.
Potential concessioner ideas/suggestions are requested addressing the following issues:
• Membership rates, types and method of payments used
• Discuss equipment/facility initial outfitting and replacement schedules you believe would be consistent with your vision of operation and offering the services described above in items a-f.
• Discuss the number and qualifications of support staff you believe would be consistent with your vision of operation and offering the services described above in items a-f.
• Discuss the number and types of regular and special classes, frequency; schedule (day/week) consistent with your vision of operation.
• Types of wellness and lifestyle motivational programs offered, frequency and duration.
• Ideas for expanded offerings.
• Ideas for linkage to off-center facilities, family memberships or other innovative approaches.
• Suggestions for types/forms of concession consideration including reinvestment ideas to maintain a first-rate facility.
Submission of information and expressions of interest:
Comments and expressions of interest are requested no later than October 31, 2008 and should be sent to the Point of Contact identified below. Electronic submissions are highly encouraged. Industry comments, concerns and recommendations will be a significant consideration in structuring a concession agreement for the KSC fitness facilities.
Industry is reminded that this is not a solicitation for proposals. Rather, this activity represents market research in the Exchange’s early acquisition planning phase. Any subsequent solicitation of proposals may substantially differ. Facilities tours will occur during the solicitation phase.
Point of Contact.:
Annette Dittmer, NASA Exchange Operations Manager, 321-861-7451 or by email annette.dittmer-1@nasa.gov.
Revised: 25 September 2008
